Not seeking FIR against Salman Khan for custodial death of firing accused: Kin of deceased to Bombay High Court

The mother of the accused who allegedly died by suicide in police custody after being arrested in connection with the recent firing incident outside actor Salman Khan's house told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that the prayer for registration of case against the actor was only a typographical error [Rita Devi v. State of Maharashtra & Ors]..A vacation bench of Justice NR Borkar and Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan recorded this statement in this regard and directed that a correction be carried out in the petition.The development took place during the hearing of the petition moved by Rita Devi, accused Anuj Thapan's mother, for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into his custodial death.In the plea filed through advocate Sriram Parakkat, it has been alleged that Thapan was murdered by the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police. Khan is one of the respondents in the petition seeking transfer of probe to the CBI and registration of FIR against police officers.During the hearing, Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda, appearing for Khan, submitted that while there were no allegations against the actor in the petition, there was a prayer for registration of FIR against him.On a query by the court, Parakkat submitted there was an apprehension that Khan may be directly or indirectly involved in the investigation as he was the complainant in the matter.However, Ponda retorted that there were no pleadings in this regard and Khan's complaint related to the firing was against unknown persons.It was also submitted that prayer even sought suspension from job which could not be granted against Khan.After Parakkat conceded that it was typographical error, Ponda requested the court to record this statement.The vacation bench recorded this statement and posted the matter for hearing in second week of June..On May 16, a vacation bench of the High Court had directed the Mumbai police to file a status report on the ongoing probe initiated into Thapan’s death.Pursuant to that, the police tendered the report to the court. The report included an autopsy report which the Bench was displeased with.It pointed out that vital details like diagram of ligature marks on the neck of the deceased and additional injuries on the body were missing.The bench permitted Parakkat to examine the report and hand it back to the court..Ponda was briefed by Advocate Parag Khandhar from DSK Legal.